Best transmission for clutch on 360 Modena

If you review this site (and others) you will find plenty of examples of short clutch life associated with the F-1 transmission; but with the manual system, not so much. In fact you won't find a lot of complaints at all about the clutch in manual transmissions. They don't seem to last as long as a clutch in a typical grocery getter, but when you consider you're talking about a high horsepower performance car often driven in a spirited way, I would say clutch life, for the manual transmission anyway, isn't too bad.

Of course, you can abuse either type of transmission and ruin a clutch quickly but you can also find examples of F-1 users experiencing a long clutch life. However, I think most people would agree that when driven by normal drivers under normal circumstances, the F-1 system will most likely require a new clutch sooner; how much sooner is difficult to predict. Nevertheless, I wouldn't consider pure clutch life as the most important factor.

My primary concern would be with the other components of the F-1 transmission; it certainly was for me when I decided which transmission to buy. Look around the 360 forum and you'll see some clutch problems, but more frequently you'll see F-1 shifting problems and even engine starting problems associated with the F-1 transmission. Yes, it gives great shifting performance, especially on a race track. And, you will even find some people who believe that the F-1 system is easier on the actual transmission internals than the typical manual system. That may or may not be true, but in either case the typical 360 transmission itself is reasonably robust, or at a minimum it's not considered a weak point.

Unfortunately, the F-1 shifting system is much less robust than the internal gear components. Not only is it more problematic than the manual system, fixing those problems can be quite expensive, and you often need a sophisticated diagnostic tool costing tens of thousands of dollars. Even if the only thing required is a new clutch disk and pressure plate, changing those components in an F-1 transmission requires the Ferrari diagnostic tool while the manual clutch can be changed by a good home mechanic. The fact that you live in Australia may make this even more important if you happen to live far from a fully equipped Ferrari dealer.

Shortly after I purchased my manual 360, the clutch sometimes refused to disengage properly. I changed the clutch master cylinder, properly adjusted the clutch operation, and bled the system myself for around 100 Euros. Had I owned an F-1 version, I hate to think how much it might have cost, but most likely it would require trucking the car a long way to the closest dealer followed by a repair bill large enough to conceal from my wife.

Of course you could purchase an F-1 Ferrari with a good clutch and drive it for years without a problem at all. Still, I would argue that your chances of a trouble free clutch/transmission experience would be higher with a manual system.

Bottom line: I believe you're more likely to enjoy a longer clutch life with a manual transmission. But I would say the potential unreliability of the F-1 shifting system and the associated potential repair costs should be a more important decision point for you than clutch life alone. Of course, others may (or more likely, will) disagree.

 

A well set up and considerately driven F1 car can have a clutch life to rival that of a considerately driven manual car. However, a poor set up F1 system, or one that is driven without regard for clutch life, can eat a clutch up in no time at all.

As Mozella points out, the F1 system is more complex and there are more things to go wrong. I would stop short of the scaremongering of huge bills - F1 cars can be run without big bills but you need a technician who knows what they are doing.

My impression of Australia, which is formed by corresponding with people who live there, is that it isn't that well serviced for Ferrari techs. In that case my advise would be to buy a Manual Coupe. The lack of complex F1 and convertible roof means that most of the maintenance and repairs can be carried out by a competent person.

 

Go to the 360 section and you will see that the first thread has some great information about buying a used 360. Read as much as you can stand.

Then go to the second line and look at the "360/430 DIY and Technical threads". The second entry has a PDF link to a pre-purchase check list I developed (after some judicious pirating) when I bought my 360. Even if you hire someone for a PPI, get a friend or mechanic or Ferrari owner to go with you and inspect the car yourself using this check list. Use any defect you uncover as a negotiating tool.

I would say don't shop for years to find the "perfect dream car". Buy something you will like (i.e. don't pick a color you hate) and, perhaps, expect to do some upgrading and improving if you buy a low priced example. As long as you get proper value for money, you'll enjoy your 360. Mine is a little bit old, it's got some miles on it, but it looks good, it's reliable, it drives great, I didn't over-pay, and I have fun with it. A Ferrari expert would recognize it as something less than a concours winner, but plenty of Italians mistake it for a nearly new car. I fully expect to get all of my money back if and when I sell it.